Cercis plant named ‘VANILLA TWIST’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Cercis canadensis  plant named ‘VANILLA TWIST’ which is characterized by weeping habit, light green leaves and white flowers. In combination, these characteristics distinguish ‘VANILLA TWIST’ from all other cultivars known to the inventor.

Genus: CERCIS.

Species: canadensis.

Denomination: ‘VANILLA TWIST’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of CERCIScanadensis, commonly known as Redbud or Eastern Redbud, which is grownas an ornamental tree for use in the home garden and commerciallandscapes. The new cultivar is known botanically as CERCIS canadensis,and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘VANILLATWIST’. ‘VANILLA TWIST’ has resulted from a breeding program which theinventor has carried out in Madison, Ohio since 1998 with the aim ofproducing new and improved varieties of CERCIS.

‘VANILLA TWIST’ was developed and selected by the inventor as follows:First, the inventor assembled in a pollination cage plants of the twovarieties Cercis ‘Covey’ and Cercis ‘Royal White’. Cercis ‘Covey’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 10,328) was selected by the inventor and is known for itsstrongly arching and pendulous habit. Cercis ‘Royal White’ is anunpatented selection which is known for its abundant white flowers andfor its cold tolerance. Pollination was effected by the introduction ofbees and seed was collected from plants of both parent varieties. Fromthis first generation seed, the inventor raised seedlings which weregrown on to flowering and then exposed to the same pollination process.The second generation seed was collected and seedlings were raised andtransplanted into the field for evaluation. In 2008, the inventorselected one seedling, ‘VANILLA TWIST’ for its combination of coldtolerance, white flowers and pronounced weeping habit of all of itsbranches. In addition, the leaves of ‘VANILLA TWIST’ do not exhibit atany stage of growth the reddish anthocyanin pigmentation whichcharacterizes non-white flowered cultivars and seedlings of CERCISincluding the parent variety ‘Covey’.

‘VANILLA TWIST’ is the only variety of Cercis known to the inventorwhich combines a weeping or arching habit with white flowers. In moredetail, ‘VANILLA TWIST’ may be compared with its parents and with othervarieties of Cercis known to the inventor as follows:

In addition to ‘VANILLA TWIST’, the following varieties of Cercisexhibit a weeping or arching habit but none bears white flowers: (a) theparent variety, ‘Covey’ which bears green leaves and lavender-purpleflowers, (b) Cercis ‘Ruby Falls’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,097) whichbears deep purple foliage and bright purple flowers, (c) Cercis ‘PinkHeartbreaker’ (U.S. Plant Patent Pending) which bears green leaves andpink flowers, (d) Cercis ‘Whitewater’ (U.S. Plant Patent Pending) whichbears variegated (green-cream) foliage, (e) Cercis ‘Cascading HeartsFalls’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,528) which bears green foliage andpurple-pink flowers, and (f) Cercis ‘Traveler’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.8,640) which is a selection of Cercis canadensis var. texensis and whichbears glossy dark green foliage and rose-pink flowers.

In addition to ‘VANILLA TWIST’, the following varieties of Cercisexhibit white flowers but none exhibits a weeping or arching habit: (a)the parent variety, ‘Royal White’ which is renowned for its coldhardiness and which bears green leaves and has an upright habit, (b)Cercis ‘Alba’ (unpatented) which bears green leaves and has an uprighthabit, and (c) Cercis canadensis ‘Dwarf White’ (unpatented) which ifupright but grows only to 7 feet in height after ten years, and (d)Cercis canadensis var. texensis ‘Texas White’ (unpatented) which isupright with green leaves and white flowers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The distinguishing characteristics of ‘VANILLA TWIST’ are as follows: Incombination these traits set ‘VANILLA TWIST’ apart from all otherexisting varieties of CERCIS known to the inventor. ‘VANILLA TWIST’ hasnot been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differencesmay be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions.

-   -   1. The branches of ‘VANILLA TWIST’ exhibit a weeping habit    -   2. The leaves of ‘VANILLA TWIST’ are light green in color.    -   3. The leaves of ‘VANILLA TWIST’ do not exhibit any anthocyanin        pigmentation.    -   4. The flowers of ‘VANILLA TWIST’ are white in color.    -   5. After one year of growth, ‘VANILLA TWIST’ achieves a height        of 6 feet to 7 feet (1.8 m-2.2 m).

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawing illustrates the distinguishingcharacteristics of ‘VANILLA TWIST’, namely its pronounced weeping habitand the white color of its buds and flowers.

The drawing labeled FIG. 1 depicts the early summer growth of a fiveyear old plant of ‘VANILLA TWIST’ which is growing in open ground at theinventor's nursery in Madison, Ohio.

The drawing labeled FIG. 2 depicts the arching and pendulous branchingof ‘VANILLA TWIST’. This drawing also depicts the white buds and flowersof ‘VANILLA TWIST’ which occur in spring and prior to leafing out.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed botanical description of the new anddistinct variety of Cercis canadensis known as ‘VANILLA TWIST’ basedupon observation of a five year old specimen tree which is growing atthe inventor's nursery in Madison, Ohio.

‘VANILLA TWIST’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristicsare given, such characteristics are approximations or averages set forthas accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differfrom the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental,climatic and cultural conditions.

The color determinations have been made by reference to the 2001 editionof The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where generalcolor terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Family: Fabaceae.-   Botanical classification:    -   -   Genus.—Cercis.        -   Species.—Canadensis.-   Variety denomination: ‘VANILLA TWIST’.-   Common name: Eastern Redbud.-   Use: Specimen tree.-   Cultural requirements: Well-drained soils. Drought tolerant.-   Light requirement: Full sun or partial shade.-   Parentage: ‘VANILLA TWIST’ is a second generation seedling resulting    from the open pollination between parents which the inventor had    previously developed by open pollination between Cercis canadensis    ‘Covey’ and Cercis canadensis ‘Royal White’.-   Plant description:    -   -   Bloom period.—March to April depending on location.        -   Plant habit.—Small tree lacks apical dominance and will form            a large, mounding shrub or small, twisting tree. Branches            are strongly pendulous and will in time touch and run along            the ground.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Dimensions at five years.—Approximately 2.3 m in height, 1.5            m in width.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zones 5.        -   Root system.—Fibrous.        -   Propagation.—Budding or grafting.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—No less or            more resistant or susceptible to pests or diseases than the            species or other cultivars of the species known to the            inventor.-   Trunk:    -   -   Shape.—Contorted.        -   Dimensions.—Height 2.3 m, diameter 5.5 cm at 15 cm above            ground level.        -   Bark surface.—Smooth, becoming scaly with age.        -   Color.—Newly-formed bark 201A, becoming and remaining 202C            with age.        -   Lenticels.—Numerous, tiny. Dimensions: 1 mm or less in            diameter. Shape and aspect: Circular. Color: 165B.-   Branches:    -   -   Arrangement.—Lateral branches emerge at 90 to 45 degree            angles, become strongly arching and pendulous. Successive            year's growth often reverses direction by up to 180 degrees            and grows back over itself, creating a twisted or knotted            appearance.        -   Color.—200B.        -   Branch surface.—Smooth.        -   Dimensions.—Primary branches: Diameter 2.5 cm. Secondary            branches: Diameter 7 mm. Twigs: Diameter 3 mm.        -   Internode distance.—Approximately 2 cm to 6 cm, depending on            vigor.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Deciduous.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf.—Shape: Broadly ovate. Margins: Entire. Apex: Acute.            Base: Cordate. Surface texture (adaxial): Smooth and semi            glossy. Surface texture (abaxial): Smooth. Dimensions: 13 cm            in length and 15 cm in width. Color (both surfaces):            Emerging growth 144B, then varies with age of leaf from 153D            to 7A in the fall. Venation pattern: Reticulate.        -   Petiole.—Color: 178A. Surface: Smooth. Dimensions: 3 cm to 4            cm in diameter.        -   Stipules.—None.        -   Fragrance.—None observed.-   Flowers:    -   -   Blooming period.—Commences in March or April, depending on            location and spring climate. Peak bloom in Madison, Ohio is            typically during first week of May.        -   Number of flowers per cluster.—4 to 8.        -   Type.—Papillonaceous (pea-like).        -   Arrangement.—Sessile clusters.        -   Location.—Nodes of previous year's growth and along older            trunks (cauliflory).        -   Length of bloom.—2-3 weeks.        -   Flower dimensions.—1.3 cm in length measured from keel to            standard.        -   Petals.—Number: 5, lower 2 petals fused (collectively            referred to as the keel). Standard or banner color: N78B.            Keel petal color: N78B. Wing petal color: 77B. Calyx lobe            color: N74C. Calyx base: fused. Calyx base color: 71A.        -   Buds.—Dimensions: At base 2 mm to 3 mm in length, and 1 mm            to 1.4 mm enlarging to 2.4 mm to 3.5 mm at top. Shape:            Broadly oval. Color: 61A. Number: Approximately 4 to 8 per            cluster.        -   Pedicel dimensions.—1 cm in length and 2 mm to 3 mm in            diameter.        -   Pedicel color.—N74C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—10.        -   Stamen dimensions.—Approximately 4 mm in length, less than            0.5 mm in diameter.        -   Pistil number.—1.        -   Pistil dimensions.—Approximately 5.3 mm to 5.5 mm in length,            less than 1 mm in diameter.-   Fruit:    -   -   Shape.—Leguminous.        -   Color.—144A to 177A at maturity.        -   Dimensions.—5 cm to 7 cm in length and 1 cm in width.        -   Arrangement.—Borne along branches in a pendant manner.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cercis canadensis plant named ‘VANILLATWIST’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.